What are the responsibilities and job description for the Occupational Therapist Home Health position at Kaiser Permanente?
Job Summary:
This job is limited to Occupational Therapists who are required to make home visits at any given time, or who have responsibilities which include working in the patients place of residence. In accordance with agency policy and state/federal regulations, provides independent, age-appropriate occupational therapy evaluation and treatment to patients. Teaches patient/family and care givers preventative and rehabilitative procedures. Develops and coordinates the plan of care and provides case management.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Evaluates patients and interprets evaluation findings to determine the nature and extent of dysfunction (as appropriate, in relationship to their adaptive equipment needs and Activities of Daily Living).
- Establishes treatment goals and plans treatment to achieve established goals (as appropriate, for adaptive equipment).
- Regularly reassesses clinical signs and symptoms to determine effectiveness of treatment, progress of patients towards goals, and the need to modifying goals and treatment.
- Evaluates need for interdisciplinary referrals to RN, PT, ST, MSW and HH Aide.
- Initiates discharge planning for occupational therapy.
- Discharges patient from occupational therapy when the patient has received a maximum benefit from occupational therapy in accordance with federal (Medicare), state and/or other regulatory guidelines.
- Based on clinical guidelines, may assess for appropriate adaptive equipment for Activities of Daily Living. May reassess adaptive equipment as needed, to determine effectiveness and/or modification of equipment.
- Coordinates adaptive equipment assessment with appropriate certified equipment vendors as appropriate.
- Provides instruction and education to patient, family and caregivers.
- In accordance with agency policy, provides accurate, timely documentation of occupational therapy patient management (to include, as relevant, when patient has received appropriate adaptive equipment to meet medical needs).
- Participates in multidisciplinary patient care conferences.
- Participates in appropriate and approved educational and clinical research activities in occupational therapy.
- Participates in specialized patient care clinics outside the department. Assists in the development, implementation, and review of departmental patient care programs.
- Performs other duties as needed in the areas of staff education, departmental operations, and departmental projects.
- Demonstrates on-going progress toward meeting the criteria for professional practice.
- Supervises the work of Home Health Aides according to regulation and agency policy.
- Kaiser Permanente conducts compensation reviews of positions on a routine basis. At any time, Kaiser Permanente reserves the right to re-evaluate and change job descriptions, or to change such positions from salaried to hourly pay status. Such changes are generally implemented only after notice is given to affected employees.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
Experience
- Minimum two (2) years of experience in occupational therapy.
- Per the National Agreement, current KP Coalition employees have this experience requirement waived.
Education
- Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy curriculum with a bachelors or masters degree.
License, Certification, Registration
- Driver's License (California)
- Occupational Therapist License (California) required at hire
- National Provider Identifier required at hire
- Basic Life Support
Additional Requirements:
- Advanced Practice Certification may be required based on operational need.
- Clinically skilled to detect early warning signs of medical complications including assessments of skin integrity and mentation.
- Ability to differentiate emergent versus non-emergent patient care status.
- Ability to look at patient holistically, not just body part or functional ability.
- Commitment to Service Orientation.
- Effective written and oral communication skills (in English).
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in an automated clinical information system preferred.
- Experience in assessment of high mobility equipment preferred.
- Computer literate preferred.
- Knowledge of Medicare conditions of participation and OASIS preferred.
